Baidu boss: China helps women succeed at work

From Kristie Lu Stout, CNN

Updated 1732 GMT (0032 HKT) June 5, 2012

Jennifer Li: A woman to watch in technology6 photos

Jennifer Li: A woman to watch in technology – Baidu's Jennifer Li offers some tough love: "We as women, we need to start and act; not thinking about the issues -- because I feel gender in the work environment should not be a factor when it comes to how far you can go."

Hide Caption

1 of 6

Jennifer Li: A woman to watch in technology6 photos

She says China's level playing field helps women, but "I think (becoming) a female executive is more about what it takes to be (an) executive, less so about being a female."

Hide Caption

2 of 6

Jennifer Li: A woman to watch in technology6 photos

Li pictured during her first few days at Baidu in 2008, then a young, fast-growing company. "When I joined the company, we had about 6,000 people, now we have 16,000 people, so the company -- throughout the past four years -- has transformed tremendously."

Hide Caption

3 of 6

Jennifer Li: A woman to watch in technology6 photos

Forbes Magazine has highlighted Li as a female power player to watch in Asia. The accolades don't come without hard work: Li says she works a 10-hour day on average.

Hide Caption

4 of 6

Jennifer Li: A woman to watch in technology6 photos

Jennifer Li (center) takes part in a Financial Times discussion on the topic of women at the top of business.

Hide Caption

5 of 6

Jennifer Li: A woman to watch in technology6 photos

Li, second from left, celebrates the 5th anniversary of Baidu's IPO. Today the company is listed on the Nasdaq stock exchange and is valued at close to $32 billion.

Hide Caption

6 of 6

Story highlights

China's work environment gives women more opportunities for success, says top businesswoman

Jennifer Li is CFO of Baidu, the world's largest Chinese-language search engine

JUST WATCHED

Woman at the heart of 'China's Google'

MUST WATCH

Woman at the heart of 'China's Google'05:07

PLAY VIDEO

"These women are all women with great ambition. You can tell their focus is not about, 'How do I fulfill a woman's role as a mother or as a young woman trying to get married?' They're more thinking about their lifetime career objectives."

Beijing-raised Li began her career in finance at General Motors, following an MBA at the University of British Columbia. She worked there for 14 years before joining Baidu in 2008.

Here Li talks to CNN about her management style, on balancing creativity with control and how to succeed as a woman in business.

On women and work ...

First, don't think that being a woman is a big deal. If you are sensitive about 'I am a young Asian woman,' that noise is coming into the professional setting. Focus on the issue. Focus on what we need to do here, not who we are. Measure yourself only by the standard that you deliver specific work objectives.

It's not like you have good luck that drops on you. If you consistently have high standards for yourself, and are constantly learning and improving, you'll become somebody that maybe years ago you aspired to be.

On gender ...

Gender is not a factor. To become a successful career person, it's about passion for excellence, not easily giving up on things, and it is about really connecting yourself to have very full perspectives, so you are unique and bring value somehow.

People know that I have a high standard, and maybe they think 'She's a very tough boss,' but in reality I'm very warm. I chatter with people about stuff and I would remember if you told me your wife had an operation. I remember all that naturally, not by design.

On Baidu ...

Nobody tells you what you need to do. People wander around; they show up at work whenever and they leave whenever. That has been the way Baidu has operated all along. It's a very self-initiated environment ... you define your own work, you define your own value. Whether you're good or not, the result will speak for itself.

On control vs. creativity ...

The key is to put order and process in the critical areas -- not everything -- so you give people a feeling that they are very free but at the same time, you give management the kind of comfort that this company is in control.

On standards ...

I have a true dedication for excellence. It's that attitude that makes me very different from others. I really think it makes a difference. When I was a young analyst, you needed to leave a market update voicemail for the company executives. All my colleagues would stutter or forget about things, but I would record my message until it was perfect and then send it.

The higher up you go, the more time you spend managing people rather than managing projects.

On her two children ...

I hope they grow up to be noble people, have virtues and great values. I feel I haven't spent enough time with them and therefore I don't have very much control of that situation. But I can only create the best environment for them to be who they are and hopefully they are great people as they grow up.

On childhood dreams ...

I wanted to be an astronaut because I felt it was an intellectual and physical challenge. But today I love what I do. I'm very fit and I'm happy with where I am.